New guy

July 9, 1999

Welcome Chris:

And you are very savvy checking things out so soon after being

diagnosed. HMO, I can relate, no one watching you or caring about

you....been in that living void for years now. I am new as well, so

far tons of my questions have been answered without even having to ask

them! It is a great thing to find others going through it as well,

isolation is not good. You have to get aggressive with the doctors and

ask questions, and write down the answers cause if you are anything

like me right now, you won't understand what they are saying. We will

learn as we go! I found that this disease is progressive, so finding

out how to change things in your life like has posted we may again

feel normal! You have a great opportunity for change and relief early

in the game! :-)

Froglady

<862567a8.0079c83c.0-@...> wrote:

original article:hyperthyroidism/?start=24

51

Hi. I'm new to this, just diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. It seems

quite mild, given the e-mails and chats I've been reading and more

telling, that my uptake was relatively close to normal although still

out of whack. How does this group work? Is it a place to ask

questions? I'm on HMO care so I feel that no one is monitoring my

situation, and I'd better get savvy and do it myself. Thanks for any

input.

I.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

eGroups.com home: hyperthyroidism

- Simplifying group communications

May 10, 2001

Hi Mark! Welcome to Longevity!

This discussion list has been fairly inactive lately, mainly because the

primary instigator of debate and controversy (yours truly) has been active

in other health-related message forums.

If I may ask, what anti-depressants are you taking? Also are you taking any

vitamins and health supplements?

-gts (Gordon)

> New Guy

>

> Hello,

> My name is Mark and I'm a new guy. I'll get the bio out of the way.

> Age 42, from North Carolina, USA, Occupation - Inventor/Businessman, but

> trying to come out of retirement that was forced by my last injury to an

> already banged up spine. Two years on Methadone that I can

> barely remember

> and another two on various Pain meds that have been hell. I've

> almost lost

> my wife but at the moment am still married, three wonderful kids who don't

> deserve any of the strife from this. Through my own research for help

> regarding my spine I found that one of the side effects of the

> meds was loss

> of testosterone and have been getting monthly injections for two

> years. (1

> cc of 200 mg/ml per month) Good results and this is a part of

> the reason I

> am doing so much better along with anti depressants, an excellent

> chiropractor and a pain management doctor who worked with me on

> finding the

> right medicine (Opiates) and dose to control my pain and minimize the side

> effects.

> I am very involved with international work and just returned from

> India where I found Testosterone over the counter in 1 cc ampoules

> (250mg/ml) for not very much money at all. Been actively researching HGH

> over past month and am now about to get my first round of test through the

> Hilton Head Island Clinic. Very nice gentleman named Lazarus Long

> recommended I call them. I am hoping to take advantage of my contacts in

> these other countries to lower the cost of the HGH I almost certainly will

> be taking. I have a good friend returning to the us in just a

> few days and

> am trying to get prices from him. I told him to inquire about " Somatrin "

> and fear he will hit a language barrier without a specific medicine to

> request. If I knew more I could possibly be getting 50 or 100 IUs in

> transit just anticipating the need for it. Travel time will be a

> few weeks

> since they aren't coming directly home and I should have test results back

> by then but it will be too late to take advantage of this courier. Any

> Suggestions?

> BTW, I'm of slightly above average height at 6'2 and a little over

> weight (240 lbs) due in large part to the slower metabolism

> associated with

> the narcotics. I exhibited most of the GH deficiency characterizes long

> before the spine injury from depression to all the other mental effects in

> addition to degenerative disk disease and what the surgeons call " failed

> spine syndrome " . In other words " it's all messed up and be happy your not

> in a wheelchair! " I will provide some dialogue on my opinions

> and look for

> others regarding hormone deficiency associated with Chronic pain and would

> really welcome the input of others.

> I'll try to be a courteous list member and thank you all in advance

> for humoring me. I am a man of Faith so don't expect any dirt from me but

> don't think you can't be yourself while I'm involved either.

> Thanks,

> Mark A

> 5-10-01

> 9:50 pm edt

>

June 24, 2001

In a message dated 6/23/2001 12:12:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

mark_anthonyau@... writes:

>

> I was hoping to get some feedback from others here, the results they

> have had from following the plan.

> The book by Dr D'adamo cites two examples of dramatic

> improvements in t-cell counts and overall condition

An increase in t-cells is not an improvement in health. It is a response to

an increase in toxicity in the body. Any doctor who treats " the virus " is a

quack or a misinformed fool who is just following orders and watching his

patients die.

September 9, 2001

Welcome to the List Ed,

Nice to have you onboard, and thank you for taking the time to to introduce

yourself,

Best Wishes

Ian

Listowner

__________________________________________

Ian Sharpe

International SOS Paramedic

AGIP Kco Marine Supply Base

Bautino, Republic of Kazakhstan

Tel: +31 70 313 3655 / 3690 (Clinic/ Accomodation)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal Mail to Ian@...

New Guy

Hi

My intrest in out of hospital care began as a kid with the American Red

Cross. I was an Army medic. Went to school, an now an emergency physician in

Florida.

Am combat medic, flight surgeon, fire surgeon and work with SAR.

My roots are as a remote site medic, thats why I requested membership.

Ed

November 7, 2001

Hi, Terry, and welcome!

looking for any info/things I should know about

Social Security

Disability applications. I have my first appointment with one of

their (Social Security's) Drs tomorrow. TIA.....

Oh boy. First advice: go to that appointment, and then hire

yourself an attorney when you get

the feedback from them. It's pretty difficult to qualify on the first

git-go. My husband is the ICD guy

around here. He had to get a lawyer to qualify for disability, and

that was BEFORE his implant.

The good news is that the lawyer doesn't cost you anything.... there

are tons of 'em who'll take on

SSA and come out ahead, and they just get a percentage of your back

award money.

Welcome to a great group.

Sue

--

"She was not quite what you would call refined.

She was not quite what you would call unrefined.

She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot."

-- Mark Twain

Rich and Sue Owens

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/7457/index3.html

November 8, 2001

Terry,

I had to apply for social sec. disability and then had to appeal it once and thenI got it. I didn't have to get a lawyer but I do know that a lot of people have to get one. I think if your doctor is strong on saying you are not able to work....that helps a lot. Also my ejection fraction was 25%. I think that helped me to get it also. Good luck.

Ruth in PA

November 8, 2001

You sure do and welcome. Tell us a little about yourself. We are all great

listeners.

Bill is the witt, Bob is the captain of the boat and me well I am not sure

what I am besides crazy and wired for zapping.

Sharon in Ohio

November 8, 2001

Well, here I go throwing my two cents worth in. I had no trouble getting my

disability. It took six months but all I had to do was fill out the paper

work submit it and then go to all those crazy appointments and have a visit

with a shrink. I think that did it for me they thought this lady is

hopeless. I did not have to use an attorney but I know that others have had

to. I got my disability the first time around wit no hassle except for the

wait and seeing the shrink which took three hours.

Sharon in Ohio

November 8, 2001

I agree about getting a lawyer ... might as well do so from the get

go... I attempted to go about it on my own first yr... was waste of

my time... then when I finally got lawyer, got approved w/out his

help, let him go, then had review beginning 2 wks later, lost

benefits w/in next year ... was the most stressful 2 yrs of my

life... wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy... good luck to you and

welcome to the 'board.

JES in NJ...

God Bless America

> Hi all,

> Terry here from Long Island NY, Had a bunch of stents (7) put in

last

> April then an AICD 2 weeks ago. Do I qualify for membership on the

> list? My REAL e-mail is Harlyred1@a... " e " in HarlEy....I'm

> looking for any info/things I should know about Social Security

> Disability applications. I have my first appointment with one of

> their (Social Security's) Drs tomorrow. TIA.....

> Terry

May 13, 2002

Hi , welcome. I may not be of much help, but many people here are

eating low glycemic diets, free from carniferous (sp?)vegetables (broc.,

cauli, etc). I would stay away from fluoride as much as possible and take a

good multivitamin. best wishes

----Original Message Follows----

From: " robert andrew " <mommyb@...>

Reply-hypothyroidism

Subject: NEW GUY

Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 03:45:31 -0400

greetings, all. new guy, here.

i am beginning research on hypothroidism, since my doc said i am borderline.

my first problem is that i cant determine if eating too much fish can

cause ht, or if eating a lot of fish can help correct the imbalance.

any comments appreciated.

secondly, there are scores of website on the net on this subject, but i am

specifically looking for ways to exclusivley use diet to treat onset

borderline ht. again, any comments would be appreciated.

and lastly...what is the best place on line for good reliable information on

this subject, that goes in depth?

again...thanking you in advance for your help.

i pray good health to you all

robert

May 13, 2002

,

I'm sure someone has the easy way into this website for you, but you can

go to www.about.com and type in hypothyroid in the search window. Look

for Shomon's site. It has alot of good, easy to understand info.

on it. Good luck

Love and take care,

Reneé and Jerry

rja86@...

May 22, 2002

,

Actually, fluoride is one of those essential trace elements which is

necessary for good health. Fluoride is especially beneficial for

middle-aged and older women as it helps prevent osteoporosis. Please

see http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1671.53264 for more

details.

Celeste

Pierce wrote:

> I would stay away from fluoride as much as possible and take a

> good multivitamin. best wishes

>

September 18, 2002

JEREMY,

I had a C5-6 fusion. Still in a great deal of pain most of the time.

Suicide would be easier.

If you want to talk write me @ raaron69@...

Cya,

Rich

March 2, 2003

Straun,

Welcome to the list.

Gareth

>From: Struan Reid <areid3@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: New Guy

>Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 15:58:50 +0300

>

>Hi,

>

>Name: Struan Reid

>

>Age: 30

>

>Nationality: South African

>

>Qualification: National Diploma Ambulance and Emergency Care (SA)

> ACLS

> ATLS

> Advanced Rescue

>

>Current Job: Remote ALS Paramedic for a land seismic exploration company in

>Saudi Arabia.

>

>Previous Job: Remote ALS Paramedic, Medical Rescue International -

>Mozambique

>

>Interests: Diving; Land Rovers; Rescue and ALS.

>

>Hello to all out there,

>

>Struan

>

_________________________________________________________________

Chat online in real time with MSN Messenger http://messenger.msn.co.uk

March 3, 2003

Hi Struan

welcome to the list - nice to know that there are other landy lovers out there!

- best 4x4 by far...!

enjoy the banter!

best wishes

New Guy

Hi,

Name: Struan Reid

Age: 30

Nationality: South African

Qualification: National Diploma Ambulance and Emergency Care (SA)

ACLS

ATLS

Advanced Rescue

Current Job: Remote ALS Paramedic for a land seismic exploration company in

Saudi Arabia.

Previous Job: Remote ALS Paramedic, Medical Rescue International -

Mozambique

Interests: Diving; Land Rovers; Rescue and ALS.

Hello to all out there,

Struan

Member Information:

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May 21, 2003

Hi , nice to meet you.

My name is . I have Fibromyalgia, & probable Lupus (seems to

depend on which dr I see & when), and a couple of other things that

keep life interesting. Sometimes I can power thru it, and

sometimes.... well, you just get sick & tired of being sick & tired!

Sorry you're having a rough time. I think you need more than a month

to get over just about any surgery, and it may take you longer, cause

this isnt the first time your body's been assaulted lately, right?

I've checked with a bunch of them drs, and not a one of em has a

magic wand. Darn it. We've got all kinds of good people here, from

all over, that have been so much help, to me and each other. And the

medical info is remarkable, so ask away.

So what kind of meanness have you been through?

Hope we can help.

>

> I just joined this group this morning, and read a few of the last

> posts before I tossed a hello post out here-

>

> I found the group while searching for another (specific) kind of

> support/info group, and I think it might have dropped in my lap at

> just about the right time- who knows. I've been really having a

hard

> time of things only the last few weeks, even though I have been

> chronically ill for a few years now. (including this past year or

so,

> undergoing multiple surgeries and such- it sucks.) ...but for some

> reason, I am just not handling right NOW very effectively. I have

no

> idea why... I just feel like I can't quite bounce back, when I

really

> should be able to, you know?

>

> Anyway, here I am, eh? (grin) I feel kind of funny just posting all

> the medical BS I recently went through, especially since really, I

> should be at the END of the proverbial tunnel physically, and

getting

> better now- but for whatever reason, my body hasn't read the

> schedule, I guess. Maybe if i'm lucky it'll be a phase I will

get

> over. The last surgery was more than a month ago, so you'd think

it'd

> be about flipping time. :/

>

May 21, 2003

I think you need more than a month

> to get over just about any surgery, and it may take you longer,

cause

> this isnt the first time your body's been assaulted lately, right?

> I've checked with a bunch of them drs, and not a one of em has a

> magic wand. Darn it. We've got all kinds of good people here, from

> all over, that have been so much help, to me and each other. And

the

> medical info is remarkable, so ask away.

> So what kind of meanness have you been through?

I guess I'm impatient, because I have always had such a strong

healing system- although ironically, my Doctor has discussed my case

with many collegues, and they all seem to think that is, in a strange

way, what's causing/caused it. UGH... lemme see if I can make this

make a little sense here- my apologies ahead of time for the length

and topic- it's tough to line out as it is, much less without

specifics. (sigh):

I started getting really sick a couple years ago, when I was

otherwise in a great frame of mind/body- i'd just gone back to

college and was really doing smashing (I work in art, but I was

really making the non-art grades, surprisingly- I even got inducted

into Phi Theta Kappa for the work I was doing- I felt pretty darn

good!)- It started with gut-problems (I figured maybe I was over-

working, who knows?) but the pain and symptoms got out of control

FAST. I've got a high pain thresh-hold, so my general physician

referred me to a specialist, because the symptoms (all lower

gastrointestinal) were really taking it out of me- I turned all

bloaty-lookin' and pale, my energy plummeted, and I was violently

sick more often than not, including pain that was just crippling- NOT

like me.

Unfortunately, the doctor diddled around, and although he was

treating me on what he called an " emergent " situation, the idiot went

off on a honymoon (for a MONTH) and 'forgot' to hand my case to one

of the other docs in his large practice- while he was gone, I ended

up in the hospital, and was diagnosed with gallstones, and rushed

into surgery. (They say it was obscene he 'missed' it, since the

stones filled not just the gallbladder, but much of the liver

ducting. I lost some ducting and a part of my liver when they removed

the gallbladder, because it had all become gangrenous- It took a long

hospital stay too- and worse, I almost kacked on the operating room

table, just to give them all a good scare. UGH) ...I thought, hey,

this resolves it, right? UH uh... didn't happen. (whimper)

I kept getting sick, nothing dietary helped, and the pain, tho MUCH

less now that the gallbladder was not an issue, was still crippling

in that I couldn't even attend classes when it hit. I got a new

general doctor (for an unrelated reason) and the new one was very

concerned, and called around untill she got me the surgeon I have had

for the past year or so now- I honestly can't say enough good things

about him! He jumped RIGHT in on it, and dug untill he found

answers... or as many as anyone could, which is where it starts

getting murky/hard to understand.

He found a tumor (that the other doc had apparently found and ignored

because he didn't think it could cause that kind of pain) that had

formed around a stricture in the sigmoid colon just at the rectum and

sigmoid join. It was strangling the gut there, and probably causing

all the 'sick' I was experiencing- The thing is, it didn't come up as

true /cancer/... it was a fiberous tumor, but non-malignant... he

snagged me into surgery, and removed it, just above and just below

the stricture, which he called 'stenosis' or 'anastenosis'- this is

about my level of understanding, that it was like 'concrete' in

testure- I thought he was teasing a little, being exaggeratory, but

no- it was almost calcified. Again, we figured that would resolve

it, you know? But during the resection surgery, they couldn't locate

a leak, and so created a temporary illeostomy. (isn't THAT a fun

friend to wake up to? congrats, the tumor is gone, meet your new

buddy, the illeostomy!)

Everything kind of gets muddy for me after that, because I was coping

with the temporary illeostomy, while we tried to figure out WHY the

body reacted to the surgery by immidiately creating another stricture

at the surgery point. ...more anastenosis. He thought maybe it was

vascular, and so removed more sigmoid, and tried 'opening' it several

times at various levels of surgery/anesthesia. No deal... it keps

coming back... each time he lost a battle against a stricture, he was

talking to other docs, tho- and I guess they all are about as

baffled, and think maybe my body was trying to heal SO fast and hard,

it was doing this, you know? It baffled me too, frankly.

The last surgery to fix the stricture was pretty intense- he removed

the sigmoid and much of the rectum, and ended up creating what was

called a " colon pouch " (it's more commonly done with small intestine,

not large- but in this case, with almost no 'storage space' between

the colon and remaining retcum, he created the colon pouch to give me

that space back- otherwise, i'd have been running to the bathroom

every few minutes. UGH...) The colon pouch is created by doubling the

colon onto itself and then snipping the divider and attaching the

bottom of the " U " to the rectum- and the surgery went well and he

reversed the illeostomy at the same time.

Healing from THAT was slow! They leave the rather large hole in your

belly (mine was about 3 " across and 2 " deep or so) and let it heal on

it's own... but I heal fast, and that's where it is now- all healed

but for the tiniest little scab and my now amazing collection of

frankenstien-scars. (they run from the lowest point at the pubic

bone to the highest point JUST under the breastbone. icky!)

By all rights, it should be OVER. Done. Finito. ...There is a small

section of stenosis, but it's less than 1/3 of the diameter of the

surgery joint, so it isn't a problem enough to even mess with (lest

that make it worse, you know?)... but even tho I was on my feet and

home again in only a couple days, I just... I haven't come back. I'm

starting to really feel it, too- the surgeries were hard but no

biggie in the end... but that this didn't 'fix' everything... I just

don't know what to do.

A week or two after surgery, my gut was still going nuts, but you

know, it had been disconnected for almost a year! ...so I was cutting

that some serious slack, and not worrying... except I am just

exhausted... sleep all the time, NO joke- or can't sleep at all.

Nothing in between. I took a 'trazodone' on doctors orders to get

some sleep after an insomnia, and I slept for three days, with only

two half-our wake periods per day... hey, I like sleep, but... YIKES.

No more of those! I sleep too much, even with the times I 'can't get

to sleep when I want to' and I am just exhausted all the time. I feel

like I have been beat on- my gut gives me a one minute warning before

everything has to go or ELSE (I think the pouch fills, and then the

uh, you know, potty emergency is just taking it out of me when that

happens) yet again- that too is sucking the life out of me like the

illeostomy never did!! (and with the illeostomy, I was so badly

dehydrated once, I had a 20 day hospital stay while they got me back

again! argh!) ...I sweat profusely or get shivery-cold with very

little 'reason'. It doesn't seem to matter what the external temp is,

my body is just going off on me, you know?

I KNOW it's only been a month or so- I had the pouch/takedown surgery

in the first week of April- but the whole 'being sick' thing never

happened before, with all the other surgeries! I bounce back

quick! ...this time... it's been hellish. My gut STILL goes nuts like

this, and that has created a world of pain from hemmrhoids/fissures

caused only by that irritation...

I'm really having the worst time of it emotionally, because there's

so many issues to think about, you know? I REALLY expected this was

the 'solve' and it'd be over and done with... and before the last

couple surgeries, my surgeon stopped taking the medicaid/DSHS I am

stuck on, and was doing the work for free/gratis, only because he

felt he'd " started it " and wanted to be the one to finish it and see

me through- his attitude twords me never changed, but BOY did his

office's!! ...I couldn't hardly talk to the receptionest without

getting a grilling- all because I was essentially a charity case,

without a way to pay... I know I can't call the office now, and

go " back " , because not only would he struggle with it ethically (I'm

sure anyway) but the office gal would make me crazy. I'm not an ego-

type, but my pride is battered enough with the indignancy of this

whole thing as it IS... this is not a fun part of the anatomy to have

everyone focused on, heh!... but I can't handle this whole charity

thing... it was just the final straw internally, when the problems

didn't resolve.

The last follow-up I had, he didn't expect any more problems, and

handed me back to my general doc. The only thing is, it's been a

couple weeks, and I am still REALLY suffering, and I just don't know

what I should do. It's complicated- he was treating me gratis for the

last bit in part because he was training a new " fellow " (surgeon

coming into this specialty) and that guy is (apologies to any who

might know him!) kind of a jerk. I just don't much like him, or

i'd go pester HIM... but now that I am supposed to be done, and over

with and everything... I don't really know how to cope with this

still being a problem.

I AM giving it some time, in hopes it is just everything learning how

to work again (i'm sure potty-training wasn't fun the first time, why

would anyone want to experience the joys of that as a 30-

something'er? smirk!) ...but because I am so out of it sick too.... I

just really worry that there is still something wrong... and I don't

have the slightest idea how to resolve it, who to go to, or even how

to handle it mentally. A LOT of folks who have 'temporary'

illeostomies end up having to get one for life, and i'm not too big

on that idea, frankly... tho I wouldn't die or anything if it was the

only way to fix things... but while cutting a PEICE of colon (or even

all the sigmoid/ect) is a big deal, I am REALLY hesitant to let them

yank out the whole colon... and typically, when they do that, they

don't leave everything connected, they do the permenant illeostomy...

sigh. ugh. argh...

So that's the HUGEly long and confusing story... there's just no

polite terms for it all... but I'm running in circles inside,

worrying about what I am going to do now... especially if this

doesn't all settle out in the next month or so. I can't spend the

rest of my life laying in bed or on the couch because I can't sit up,

you know? I was that sick before... and sleeping all the time is a

definate quality-of-life killer too. (smirk) ...sleep is fun, but...

argh!! ...and of course, like everyone else in the world, my personal

life didn't stop for the duration, so I have the kinds of regular

problems a lot of folks in my position have- things that I know I

could handle better if I wasn't feeling so darn SICK all the time!!

I haven't the slightest idea where to turn next... or how long to

wait before I try and take action, you know? How much is too much?

When is it /really/ being sick and not just being whiney, pushing too

hard too soon.... and am I just somehow addicted to being sick all

the time or something wierd like that? (I have NO idea why that

scares me, but it does. I have always hated being sick, and so far as

I can tell i STILL lothe it- but what IF... you know? people have

gotten addicted to wierder!) ...bah.

(hey, anyone still reading definately has my respect- that is some

serious spammage there!)

May 29, 2003

Hi ,

how are you doing today??? Welcome to the group... You sure do have a lot to deal with... Please keep us posted...

Welcoming Hugs

Helen

(hey, anyone still reading definately has my respect- that is some

serious spammage there!)

"Don't be afraid to be yourself.

You are unique and special just the way you are."

Sue Calwell &

((((((( RAINBOW HUGS )))))))

LOVE

angelbear1129@...

June 5, 2003

,

Sorry for the slow reply, but hey, better late than never, right?

You are *not* being whiny! Looking at your story from my perspective

(and I only have measly IBS and hemmrhoids) you deserve a medal for your

patience and what you've been through! I have more than a few choice

words for that doctor that took you on gratis...that doesn't mean he (or

his office personnel) can treat you like a second-class citizen. Many

of us deal with the " am I just being a pain " syndrome, or " being sick

addiction " syndrome (which neither exist) because you are a biological

being and medical maladies happen...we don't cause them (with a few

exceptions, mostly mental health related). Medical science isn't

perfect by far, but hearing your doc's approach of " cut some now, cut

some later, it aint' my colon " approach seems inhuman. Any doctor that

does not take in to consideration your quality of life after their

so-called treatment is going against the Hippocratic oath. Please

update us...I'd like to know what the status is of this. Oh....BTW, I

used to take care of a man with a colostomy....I have much respect for

you.

Hugs,

Re: New Guy

I

think you need more than a month